Again, court refuses Kanu’s request to wear traditional attire in custody

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has again refused the request of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to wear Igbo traditional attire in custody.
Justice James Omotoso, while delivering judgment, yesterday, held that Kanu’s application lacked merit.

He explained that the denial did not amount to violation of rights, as alleged by the applicant, adding that Kanu failed to prove why he should be granted the relief. Omotoso said there was nothing on record before the court, showing he was discriminated against or that other inmates enjoyed more privileges or rights than the applicant.

“The case of the applicant is based on speculation without any concrete evidence. The applicant’s suit lacks merit. Consequently, the suit is, hereby, refused,” Omotoso said. In the fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by his counsel, Maxwell Okpara, Kanu had prayed the court for declaration that Department of State Services (DSS), while carrying out its lawful duties is bound to respect rights.

The applicant also wanted the court to declare that preventing Kanu from wearing Igbo traditional attire and other local attires, which the constitution does not forbid, is a violation of rights

The respondents, DSS Director General and Attorney General of the Federation, in their counter claims, averred that they had not, in any way, breached Kanu’s constitutional rights.
They held that Justice Binta Nyako, before whom Kanu is standing trial for treasonable felony, had barred him from wearing Igbo attire, arguing that granting the request would have amounted to promoting causes for which he was being held. Nyako, in a suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1585/2021, had rejected similar application by Kanu to wear the attire, which depicts insignia of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.